Mental Health in Transition

Tuesday, March 13, 2018

For some students, mental health issues may become more frequent or pronounced during the transition to adulthood years. Lori Desautels, Ph.D. has written extensively on the effects that both the brain and mental health have on learning. Her blog post, "The Adolescent Brain, Leaving Childhood Behind," lists seven guidelines for secondary educators that support emotional and mental health as students transition to adulthood.

Model the behaviors we want to see.

Tap into the strengths, passions, and expertise of all students.

Give students choices and input into developing rules and guidelines.

Provide safe and fair boundaries.

Teach students about the brain and how it develops during adolescence.

Teach them how to calm their stress response system with focused attention and brain breaks involving movement.

Show your interest in their lives by learning the traits, norms, and interests of students—music, favorite tech, clothing, goals, etc.

In her post, Desautels expounds on these guidelines and includes links to activities, strategies, and more information.